Firearm.



PATENTED OCT. 30, 1906.

T. G. JOHNSON.

FIREARM.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 21. 1906.

1%; 9.1;)km:3nnnyirsanpmx oirmannpnarnpe 5 3- UNIE THOMAS (J. JOHNSON,

OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS (30.,OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTI- CUT, A CORPORATION.

FIREARM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 30, 1906.

Application filed April 21, 1906. Serial No. 313,008.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS C. JOHNSON, a citizen of the United States,residing at New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State ofConnecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Firearms; andI do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with theaccompanying draw- I heavy recoil-taking ings and the characters ofreference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description ofthe same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification,and represent, in

Figure 1, a broken view, partly in righthand side elevation and partlyin vertical section, of a gun constructed in accordance with myinvention; Fig. 2, a view thereof in transverse section on the line a bof Fig. 1 looking rearward.

My invention relates to an improved automatic firearm having a balancedbreechblock of the type shown in my Patent No. 681,481, granted August27, 1901, the object of my present invention being to provide simple andeffective means for taking the shock of recoil upon the barrel, andtherefore at a point in front of the frame and breech mechanism, whichare thus relieved from racks and strains.

With these ends in view my invention consists in the construction to behereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In carrying out my invention as herein shown I employ a buffer 2,consisting of a thick washer of vulcanized fiber or equivalent materialand located in a circular buiferchamber 3, opening forward and formed ina lug 4, made integral with and depending from the rear end of thenonrecoiling barrel 5, which is formed with a threaded stem 6, adaptingit to be screwed into the forward end of the gun-frame or receiver 7.The buffer-chamber 3 also receives a steel or equivalent washer 8, therear face of which rests upon the said buffer 2, while its projectingfront face forms a bearing for the rear end of a helical spring 9, whichholds it, and hence the buffer 2, in place Within the buffer-chamber 3.The front face of the said washer 8 takes the first shock of recoil bybeing impinged upon by the recoil-shoulder 10, formed by the rear end ofa bearinghead 11, which is connected at its rear end by two parallelside pieces 12 with the forward end of a balanced breech-block 13, thesaid head 11 and side pieces 12 constituting the forwardly-projectingbalancing extension of the balanced breech-block. Thebreechblock-closing spring 9 is mounted upon a guide-rod 14, passingrearward through the washer 8 and buffer 2 and having its rear enthreaded, as at 15, for being mounted in the said lug 4, the extremerear end of the rod 16 forming a locking-bolt and entering a dowelhole17 in the gun-frame 7 for locking the barrel against turning under theshock of recoil. At its forward end the spring 9 is extended into aspring-chamber 18, formed in the bearing-head 11, which rides back andforth on the rod 14 in the operation of the gun.

When the gun is fired, the breech-block 13 moves back and compresses thespring 9 until the recoil-shoulder 10 impinges against the steel washer8, which takes the first shock of recoil and transmits it to thevulcanized buffer 2, which is confined in the chamber 3, the steelwasher 8 serving to protect the buffer 2, which by being thus closelyconfined is enabled to take the shock of recoil without being deformedand disintegrated even though it is subjected to terrific hammering.

I claim 1. In an automatic firearm, the combination with the framethereof, of a non-recoiling barrel having an integral dependingrecoil-taking lug containing a forwardly-opening buffer-chamber locatedbelow the barrel, a buffer confined within the said chamber. a metalwasher adapted to enter the open end of the said chamber in which itconfines the said buffer, and a breech-block having a forward extensioncoacting directly with the said washer and transmitting the shock ofrecoil to the buffer confined within the said chamber.

2. In an automatic firearm, the combination with the frame thereof, of anon-recoiling barrel having an integral dependingrecoil-taking lugcontaining a forwardly-opening buffer-chamber, a buffer confined withinthe said chamber, a metal washer adapted to enter the open end of thesaid chamber in which it confines the said buffer, a breechblock havinga forwardlyprojecting extension coacting directly with the said washerwhich transmits the shock of recoil to the said buffer, a guide-rod therear end of which passes through the said bufier and washer In testimonywhereof I have signed this and enters the said lug in which it ismounted specification in the presence of two subscrib- I0 and forming aguide for the said eXtension of ing witnesses.

the breech-block, and a breech-blook-olosing 5 spring encirolingthe saidrod and at its rear THOMAS JOHNSON end bearing against the said washerand at Witnesses: its forward end bearing against the said eX- ARTHUR W.EARLE,

tension of the block. HERBERT F. BEEBE.

